Dengue pandemic threat with monsoons:Vietnam

13 Jun 2014, BioSpectrum Bureau , BioSpectrum

Singapore: Although there was a 42 percent dip in the number of annual dengue cases in Vietnam this year, roughly 10,000 people were infected and six were killed with the disease, confirmed the Ministry of Health.

However Mr Tran Dac Phu, director of the Preventive Health Department said that infections are expected to soar with the onset of monsoon, which create a favorable breeding ground for the mosquitoes. Ho Chi Minh City reported three fatalities, followed by Binh Duong, Binh Phuoc and Ca Mau provinces, all in southern Vietnam, which reported one fatality each.

Mr Phu admitted that there were no efforts from the government in spreading public cognizance or precautionary measures to curb the spread. He added that community awareness about the disease is very low, as people still follow the habit of storing water in open containers which serves as the major breeding grounds of mosquitoes.

He suggested that it is important for the government to conduct campaigns and instill knowledge about the disease in the population. He also mentioned that urban dengue cases were on the rise which were required to be efficiently curtailed, as it can easily spread to the rest of the population.

Ms Vo Thi Phuong, chief of Sanofi Pasteur's Vietnam office, said a vaccine is expected to be available by 2016 as it has successfully completed the clinical trials.